Clothes line prop



Dec. 21, 1965 3,224,722

CLOTHES LINE PROP Filed April 21, 1964 4 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,224,722 CLOTHES LINE PROP Kenneth R. Flick, 1533 E. 20th St, Erie, Pa. Filed Apr. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 361,434 3 Claims. (Cl. 248-353) This invention is a clothes line prop which will not slip on the line.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a perspective of the clothes line prop attached to the line, FIG. 2 is an elevation of the upper end of the prop, partly in section, FIG. 3 is a top plan view, and FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section of the upper end of the pole, the section being at right angles to FIG. 2.

In use, the lower end of the pole, preferably covered by a rubber cap 1, rests on the ground and the upper end of the pole, covered by a rubber or plastic cap 2, engages the clothes line 3 and holds it the desired distance off the ground. While the pole is of fixed length, the height of the clothes line above the ground can be adjusted by the angular relation of the pole to the line.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the body of the pole comprises a metal tube 4 of length greater than the maximum desired height of the clothes line. Along the out side of the upper end of the tube is a wire rod 5 having an angular section 6 extending diametrically across the upper end of the tube. In the raised position shown in FIG. 2, a downwardly extending section 7 is spaced sufficiently above the upper surface of the cap 2 to permit entrance of the clothes line 3. In this position, a downwardly extending wire rod 8 fixed to the section 6 extends through an opening 9 in the cap a short distance into the upper end of the tube. The pole 4 need not be tubular throughout its length. It is sufficient that the pole has an opening in its upper end of sufiicient depth to accommodate the rod 8 in its lowermost position. The pole may be made of any material. If the pole is wood, the upper end of the pole may be made tubular by drilling a hole in the end of the pole of depth and diameter sufiicient to accommodate the rod 8.

The rod 5 is provided with a handle 10 by which it may be lifted to the elevated position of FIG. 2. Upon release of the handle, a spring 11 pulls the rod 5 downward and clamps the clothes line between the section 6 and the cap 2 on the upper end of the tube 4. A non slip grip is obtained, the clothes line being arched downward as indicated at 12 in FIG. 4. This prevents slipping of the prop relative to the line in all directions. The clothes line is confined between the rod 8, and the sections 6, 7 so it cannot escape and is held against slipping in all directions. The downward arching of the clothes line assists in maintaining the non-slip grip. The cap 2 may be omitted although it is preferable with metal poles having sharp edges which may cut or fray the clothes line.

In the lowermost position, the downwardly extending projection 7 extends through a guide 13 in the cap into an opening 14 in a projection 15 integral with the rubber cap 2.

In a typical clothes line prop, the length of the pole may be approximately seven feet and the handle 10 may be located about five feet from the lower end so as to be easily accessible.

The clothes line prop may be shipped disassembled.

3,224,722 Patented Dec. 21, 1965 Assembly is easily completed by installing the caps 1 and 2 on the ends of the tube 4, by inserting the projecting rod 8 through the opening 9 in the upper cap 2, and by hooking the lower end of the spring 11 into an opening 16 in the tube. This pulls the rod 5 downward, providing the clamping pressure for non slip engagement with the clothes line.

A kit consisting of rod 5, spring 11 and caps 1, 2 (if needed) may be sold for installation on a pole of round, flat, or other shape owned by the purchaser.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A clothes line prop comprising a tubular pole, a cap of flexible material on the upper end of the pole, a rod extending along one side of the pole having a clamp extending over the cap and across the top and down the side of the pole diametrically opposite said one side of the pole, said cap having an upwardly presented opening therein over the upper end of the pole, said clamp having a member fixed thereto depending through said opening into the upper end of the pole, a tension spring between the lower end of the rod and the pole pulling the rod downward, a handle on the rod for lifting the rod upward against the tension of the spring to raise the clamp and permit insertion of the clothes line between the cap and the clamp.

2. A clothes line prop comprising a pole having a tubular upper end, a rod extending along one side of the pole having a clamp extending across the top of the pole and down the side of the pole diametrically opposite said one side of the pole, a member fixed to said clamp depending within the upper end of the pole, a tension spring between the lower end of the rod and the pole pulling the rod downward, a handle on the rod for lifting the rod upward against the tension of the spring to raise the clamp above the upper end of the pole to permit insertion of the clothes line between the upper end of the pole and the clamp.

3. A clothes line prop comprising a pole, a cap on the upper end of the pole, a rod extending along one side of the pole having a clamp extending over the cap to the side of the pole diametrically opposite said one side of the pole, said cap having an upwardly presented opening therein, said clamp having a member fixed thereto depending through said opening, a tension spring between the lower end of the rod and the pole pulling the rod downward, a handle on the rod for lifting the rod upward against the tension of the spring to raise the clamp above the upper end of the pole to permit insertion of the clothes line between the upper end of the pole and the clamp.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,211,261 1/1917 Weber 248353 1,535,587 5/1926 Kneemoeller 248--353 2,031,091 2/1936 Berg 248-353 2,442,295 5/1948 Kuendel 248353 2,560,109 7/ 1951 Hines 248353 2,797,942 7/ 1957 Schwalbe 248353 X CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

FRANK B. ABBOTT, Examiner. 

1. A CLOTHES LINE PROP COMPRISING A TUBULAR POLE, A CAP OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL ON THE UPPER END OF THE POLE, A ROD EXTENDING ALONG ONE SIDE OF THE POLE HAVING A CLAMP EXTENDING OVER THE CAP AND ACROSS THE TOP AND DOWN THE SIDE OF THE POLE DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE SAID ONE SIDE OF THE POLE, SAID CAP HAVING AN UPWARDLY PRESENTED OPENING THEREIN OVER THE UPPER END OF THE POLE, SAID CLAMP HAVING A MEMBER FIXED THERETO DEPENDING THROUGH SAID OPENING INTO THE UPPER END OF THE POLE, A TENSION SPRING BETWEEN THE LOWER END OF THE ROD AND THE POLE PULLING THE ROD DOWNWARD, A HANDLE ON THE ROD FOR LIFTING THE ROD UPWARD AGAINST THE TENSION OF THE SPRING TO RAISE THE CLAMP AND PERMIT INSERTION OF THE CLOTHES LINE BETWEEN THE CAP AND THE CLAMP. 